Your local library and e-books

[crich70]

My library (part of southcentral wisconsin library system) has ebooks. Up to 10 books and (I think) 21 days. If course you can return books early.

[meeera]

I use Overdrive and Zinio from my library. 10 Overdrive titles at once, usually for a month I think, and some can be returned before. Up to 5 Holds (I wish this was bigger, and I wish they offered a TBR list also).

[owly]

Hmpfh. The situation in Sweden is starting to get out of hand. Since ever book loan costs the library 20 Kr (about 3 dollars) we have to limit the amount people get to loan. Not many libraries let people loan more than five books per week and most less than that. There are even some who have frozen ebook lending completely since the budget limit has already been reached for this year. The Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan just wrote an article about it http://www.sydsvenskan.se/kultur--no...a-ar-for-dyra/

[jineapple]

No ebooks at my library, and here in germany I couldn't use it with my Kindle anyway.

[banjomike]

From my local council website:
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/leis...ervices/Ebooks

Sigh...

[Rbneader]

My local library is pretty decent - 10 holds and 10 checkouts I think.
And they have a large selection...of romance novels. 90% of the catalog is romance novels, and a bunch of the rest are kids books. I've taken to checking out the kids books, because hey, they're usually not bad.

People who use multiple libraries - how do you do it? I've never tried it before.

[bookaho!ic]

My library in west yorkshire allows up to 6 titles for max 21 days

[shootingMaNs]

Our library system(Four County Library System) uses Overdrive and has a decent selection. We're allowed 3 checkouts for up to 21 days.

[soulfuldog]

What is the point in being able to borrow 20 books all at the one time, why would you want that many?

The first library I used only has about 1500 titles available, with a maximum of 2 loans for 21 days and 2 holds. My local library has just recently launched its ebook service and has about 4000 titles available, with a maximum of 5 titles for 21 days, and 5 holds. I generally borrow one or maybe two at a time for either 7 or 14 days.

I've no idea how this compares to the amount of physical books available in the library, but it's probably a lot less. I'm not sure how quickly new books are available as ebooks either. I do know that for example my council has 7 copies of the Robert Galbratih/JK Rowling book available (plus two talking book CDs), but its not available as an ebook or audio download.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by l_macd

What is the point in being able to borrow 20 books all at the one time, why would you want that many?

It's not just books for most libraries I'm familiar with, but audiobooks, videos and music as well and each counts against your borrowed total. 20 does still seem like a lot, but I suppose the libraries that offer that many know most people won't reach that total and are just covering all their bases.

[Lutraa]

Originally Posted by forumshrew

Just curious as to what your local library offers in the way of borrowing ebooks.

My hometown of Greenhills, Ohio library system allows up to 20 ebooks at a time through Overdrive, as well as downloads from Freading using a token system (12 tokens a week, left over tokens rollover for a month and then expire if not used). On Freading books are assigned a token value of 4, 2, or 1 tokens depending on various factors.

I belong to two libraries, both serviced by Overdrive: my local library, through which I have access to the statewide "Listen Alaska" ebook and audiobook lending library, and the Navy General Library. They have identical policies: 10 books may be borrowed at a time, with, I think, up to five books on hold.

BTW I lived in Greenhills as a small child and learned to read there!

[jehane]

Originally Posted by Rbneader

People who use multiple libraries - how do you do it? I've never tried it before.

I've always used multiple libraries, when I've had access. In Australia, libraries are generally by local council. Growing up, we lived near the border of a local government area so we joined both libraries. My last location in Australia was again in a border area, so I was a member of two libraries. I actually joined the neighbouring library because it got ebooks. Shortly afterwards my local library also started ebooks. Recently I have moved to the US (Columbus, Ohio - forgive me for not knowing where Greenhills is - I haven't been here very long!) and joined my local library here. So I currently have access to 3 library systems with ebooks. At some stage I plan to go up to Cleveland and join there as well, since I have heard so many good things about CLEVNET, and a few books I've been looking for are available there. My Australian libraries will eventually be dropped, but the selections there are usually nowhere near as good. I will miss the access to certain Australian magazines though.

My total ebook "allowance" is 25 books (10,10,5) but I typically don't borrow more than about 5 total at a time. When I first was able to get ebooks I "gorged" on them, borrowing my full allowance. It wasn't long before I realised that I was much better off having a few books at a time, borrowing new ones whenever I returned some so that I had a continuous stream. I also use Zinio.

I have no idea about holds - I rarely use this feature. These days I rarely start unfinished series so I'm mostly reading older titles, so holds are rarely required. I also don't borrow audiobooks since I don't have a device (other than laptop/tablet) to play audiobooks, plus I've never been a huge fan, apart from radio plays which are written for voice.

I have seen some ads for Freading and also public domain books that are outside the allowance, but I've never followed through those links. I know there's some other electronic resources available but not ones I've used.

[CRussel]

All the Libraries in BC use a combined Overdrive based eBook system. Unfortunately, it's limited to 5 checked out books (not an issue), but only 5 holds. The holds are a big issue because some popular books end up with 40 or more users waiting to get the book which ties up your hold for a long time. I'd be a lot happier if they'd up the hold limit.

Originally Posted by CRussel

All the Libraries in BC use a combined Overdrive based eBook system. Unfortunately, it's limited to 5 checked out books (not an issue), but only 5 holds. The holds are a big issue because some popular books end up with 40 or more users waiting to get the book which ties up your hold for a long time. I'd be a lot happier if they'd up the hold limit.

You may want to see if you qualify for a Vancouver Library card (I think that people who live or work in Vancouver qualify) since they split off from the BC Libraries collection about a year ago.

[NickyWithNook]

We can only have a few at a time (5 I think?) but we can turn them in early at least for the Kindle edition (haven't tried for the epub edition.) I've never even had that many at a time. I think 2 at a time is a lot for me. I can only read so many at once.